Astros part ways with two area scouts

PITTSBURGH – The Astros have let go of two of their area scouts as Rusty Pendergrass (based in Texas) and Lincoln Martin (based in Georgia) will not have their contracts renewed.

Assistant general manager of scouting Bobby Heck, who oversees the area scouts and regional supervisors, informed them of the moves.

“Bobby’s got some candidates in mind, but obviously at this point during this season, we’ve got plenty of time to make the right decision,” general manager Ed Wade said.

Pendergrass is best known in Astros history for scouting and signing Hunter Pence despite all his unorthodoxies coming out of UT-Arlington in 2004. Martin scouted last year’s first-round pick, Delino DeShields Jr., out of the Atlanta area among many others including high picks Jay Austin and Telvin Nash.

Wade declined to give a reason for not renewing their contracts.

It continues an autumn of some turnover as J.D. Alleva was promoted from area scout to east coast supervisor to take the place Clarence Johns, who took the job as the Rangers’ national crosschecker.